2025
Museum as
a sanctuary
of the real
a sanctuary
of the real
about
In November 2025, I spoke at an international academic conference on the role of museums in the age of generative art. In a world where over half of digital content is now generated, museums are becoming "sanctuaries of the real".
We are living through a crisis of trust. Museums are no longer just storehouses of the past – they are evolving into interactive platforms with a mandate for authentication.
That said, the interactive part is a matter of luck.
We are living through a crisis of trust. Museums are no longer just storehouses of the past – they are evolving into interactive platforms with a mandate for authentication.
That said, the interactive part is a matter of luck.
Project specifics
The conference marked the 200th anniversary of the Stroganov Academy – an institution that has shaped generations of creative professionals. Given its historical and cultural significance, I approached the talk at the intersection of historical context and contemporary technology.
Through the design, I wanted to convey both the tension and the synergy between the physical and digital worlds.
Through the design, I wanted to convey both the tension and the synergy between the physical and digital worlds.
talk content
The talk covered the current state of the trust crisis, a review of relevant research, and an analysis of digital museum solutions and collaborations. An extended version of the text was later published in the conference proceedings – The Stroganov School in World and Russian Culture
design concept
As I said, the design was meant to convey a specific idea. I also wanted to keep the audience focused on the key points of the talk. So the presentation uses both geometric sans‑serif and old‑style serif typefaces, unmistakably digital colors, and a stylized beam of light
the core idea
Living this life, it’s sometimes useful to stop and look around – and ask yourself: what’s actually going on? Otherwise, you might end up like the frog slowly boiling in a pot. We often fail to notice even major changes if they happen gradually. The widespread adoption of generative AI is one of them
Process
- 01Defined the talk topic, submitted the proposal and abstracts
- 02Designed the presentation, timed the delivery to fit the schedule
- 03Wrote the paper for publication in the conference proceedings
"AI slop is poisoning trust in digital content across the board. But in art education, the stakes are especially high. Students are immersed in a flood of visual material — and too often, they have no way to tell what’s real and what’s generated. This doesn’t just weaken their knowledge. It warps their sense of art history, of style, of technique itself"
Outcome
